Printing-press feeder means



July 27 1926.

J. R. BLAINE PRINTING PRESS FEEDER MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5,1924 IIII llu l I July 27 1926.

J. R. BLAINE PRINTING PRESS FEEDER MEANS Filed May 5, 1924 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 27, 1926.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH R. BLAINE, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TOMIEELE PRINTING PEEES & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OE ILLI- PRINTING-PRESS FEEDER MEANS.

Application filed llay.3, 1924. Serial No. 710,756.

This invention relates to a printing press and more particularly tosheet separator mechanism and control means therefor.

The invention is illustrated in connection with what is known as a fiatbed press in which the bed reciprocates in a horizontal plane andcooperates with an impression cylinder, the feed pile being carried in aframe which is separably connected to the main frame of the press. Thefeeder pile frame is separably connected from the main frame and movableaway from said main frame for the purpose of giving access to the bed ofthe press, particularly to facilitate the operation of make ready.

The feeder pile frame is provided with front guide means for the sheetmaterial in the pile and during the operation of the sheet .separatorsthe latter are caused to move downwardly behind said front guide means.If, when the separators are down the feeder pile frame were movedrearwardly for the purpose of separating it from the main frame, thefront guide means would pass into engagement with the separators anddamage same.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to control theposition of the separators more particularly during the movement of thefeeder pile frame away from and toward the main frame of the. press toprevent any damage being done to said separators. v

Another object of the invention is to provide separator mechanism andcontrol means therefor adapted to meet the various requirements underservice conditions.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangementdisclosed on the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa fragmentary side elevation .of a printing press embodying my inventionand showing the feeder pile frame in its normal operative. associationwith respect to the main frame of the press;

Figure 2 is a similar side elevation of the press, but showing thefeeder pile frame moved out of operative association with the main frameof the press for the purpose of facilitating the make ready operation;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view, parts being in section, andtaken in the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing various cooperativeelements including the separator parts and control mechanism therefor;and

Figure 4 is a detail fragmentary side elevation of the parts shown inFigure 3.

The various novel features of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and drawings and will be particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

Referring to the fi'gures'of the drawings,

it will be noted that the invention is illus trated in connection withaprinting press including a main frame 10, in which an impressioncylinder 11 is rotatably mounted,-

which impression cylinder cooperates with type or plates carried on thehorizontal re- .ciprocatory bed (not shown). A feeder pile frame 12 maybemoved away from and'toward the main press frame 10 by any suit ablemechanism, the feeder pile frame normally being locked to the main frameby any suitable mechanism including one or more hooks 13, preferably oneat each side of the press, which are adapted to latch.over tongues orprojections 14 carried on the-main frame 10. Preparator to movingthe'feeder pile frame away from the main frame it is merely necessary todepress a hand lefVerzlS which is connected to a rock shaftld, to whichthe hook or hooks 13 are secured, whereupon the latter are lifted outofen gagement with the projections 14.

mix

Movably mounted in the feeder pile frame is a pile of sheet material 17which is suitably supported upon atable 18 which may be raised step bystep in any suitable manner as the sheet material is fed therefrompreparatory to receiving an impression. The pile of sheet material isguided in its vertical movement by any suitably supported front guidemeans 19 which, in this instance, comprises a plurality of verticallyextending bars, only one of which is shown. The sheet material isseparated sheet by sheet from the pile and raised slightly therefrom bya plurality of separators 20 each mounted upon the lower end of one of aplurality of rods 21 slidably and guidedly carried in a barrel member 22having a shank 23 horizontally adjustably mounted in a bracket 24carried and supported by supports or shafts 25 and 26. It is found thatsheet material of different weights, quality, etc, are separated bestunder different conditions, including the relative position of theseparators with res t to the front edge of the sheet. .Accor ingly, thehorizontal adjustment of the separators accomplishes this purpose. Whenthe separators are adjusted to the (proper positions under theparticular con itions imposed, each is secured in its adjusted positionby any suitable means, such as a set screw 27.

Referring further to the slidably mounted rods 21, it will be noted thatthe u per portion of each of said rods passes t rough a forked portion28 of an associated arm 29, each of which arms 29 is secured to a crossshaft 26. The upper end of each rod is provided with rollers 31, whichride upon the upper surface of the forked portion 28 of each arm 29 tofacilitate relative movement which may be occasioned between said rods21 and the arms 29 during an up and down movement of the separators.Normally these separators are reciprocated vertically b a rocking ofshaft 26 which 18 automatica y rocked through mechanism including an arm32 secured to one end of the shaft, said arm in turn being pivotallyconnected at 33 to any suitable operating rod 34.

As mentioned hereinabove, during the operation of the separators 20, thelatter are caused to move behind the front sheet guide means 19 andbelow and within the horizontal path of movement of the top of saidguide means when the latter is moved rearwardly with the feeder pileframe 12 away from the main frame 10. It is apparent that if the searators 20 are permitted to remain in suc position as just described,during the rearward movement of the feeder pile frame 12, that the guidemeans 19 will pass into engagement with said separators 20 and probablycause damage to the latter. In order to prevent damage being done tosaid separators and to insure safety of said separators, means isprovided for automatically raising said separators 20 to a safetyposition out of the path of rearward horizontal movement of said frontguide means.

The means for thus raising the separators 2O out-of the path of movementof said front guide means 19 includes an arm 35 secured to the shaft 26,whicharm is adapted to be rocked upwardly for causing the shaft 26 torotate a given amount in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed inFigures 1, 2 and 4, for liftingthe separators through the arms 29, whichare also secured to the shaft 26.

The arm 35 is actuated by a cam 36 formed on one arm of a bell cranklever 37, the other arm of which is pivotally connected to a rod 38 inturn pivotally connected to the lever 15 which controls the unlockingmovement of the latch or latches 13 from the associated lockingprojections 14. Accordingly, when the lever 15 is depressed for raisingthe latches 13 out of locking association with the projections 14preparatory to moving the feeder pile frame 12 away from the main frame10, the separators 20, through the connections hereinabove described,automatically are raised out of the path of horizontal movement of thefront (pile guide means 19, which is mounted on an moves with the feederpile frame 12. After the separators 20 are thus raised to a safeposition throu h the arm 35 it becomes essential that sai separatorsshould be maintained in said elevated position. This is done by a springpressed latch 39 which asses under the arm 35 for holding the atter and,accordingly, the separators 20 in elevated position.

However, it is conceivable that the latch 39 might possibly becomedetached from the arm 35, as for example, if it is desired to adjust thehorizontal positions of the separators 20. In such event it becomesimportant to again raise the separators 20 out of the path of horizontalmovement of the front pile guide means 19 before said guide means withthe feeder pile frame 12 is moved into its normal position with respectto the main frame 10. To accom lish this result, a cam 40 is providedwhich is secured to the feeder pile frame 12. This cam cooperates with aroller 41 mounted in the rear end of an arm 42 also secured to the shaft26. Accordingly, as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, it will be apparent thatas the feeder pile frame 12 is moved from its position away from themain frame, as shown in Figure 2, to its normal position in operativeassociation withthe main frame 10 of the press, as shown in Figure 1,the roller 41 will ride on the cam 40 in a manner to depress the arm 42and cause the separators 20 to be raised out of the path of horizontalmovement of the front uide means 19.

It will be noted that t e shaft 26 is alwa s rotated a small amount in acounterclock wise direction, as viewed in the figures of the drawing,for raising the separators 20 whether said separators 20 are raisedautomatically through the arm 32 during the normal operation of thepress, or automatically'as t e feeder pile frame 12 is unlocked from themain frame 10, or automatically when said feeder pile frame 12 is movedfrom the position shown in Figure 2, into its position of operativeassociation with the main frame shown in Figure 1.

It is my intention to cover all modifications of the invention fallingwithin the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a printing press, the combination of a main frame, a feeder pileframe movable away from and toward said main frame and having a frontguide for sheets in the pile, a sheet separator which during itsoperation moves behind said guide andin the path of movement of saidguide, and means for insuring movement of said separator from the ath ofmovement of said guide when the atter with said feeder pile frame ismoved.

2. In a printing ress, the combination of a main frame, a coder pileframe movable away from and toward said main frame and having a guidefor sheets in the pile, a sheet separator carried by said main frame andwhich, during its operation moves into a position with respect to saidguide which lies in a path of movement of said guide, and means forinsuring movement of said separator from the path of movement of saidguide before said feeder pile frame is moved to a position in which theseparator might be damaged.

3. In a printing press, the combination of a main frame, a feeder pileframe movable away from and toward said main frame, a sheet se aratorcarried by said main frame which, uring its operation, moves into thepath of movement of a part of said feeder pile frame, and means forinsuring movement of said separator out of the path of movement of anyof the parts of said feeder pile frame. preparatory to a movement of thelatter.'

4. In a printing press, the combination of a movably mounted feeder pileframe, a guide for sheets in the pile, a sheet separator which, duringits operation, moves into the path of movement of said guide, and meansfor insuring movement of said separator from the path of movement ofsaid guide before the latter is moved.

5.. In a printing press, the combination of a movably mounted feederpile frame, a sheet separator which during its operation moves into aposition included in the path of movement of 'a part carried by saidframe, and means for positively moving said separator out of the path ofmovement of said part to prevent damage to said separator: r v

6. In a printing press, the combination of a main frame, a feeder pileframe movable away from and toward said main frame, lock means forlocking said frames together,

' a sheet separator carried by said main 5 position of said separator.

- 7 In a printing press, the combination offrame, and means incident tothe operation of said locking means for controlling the a main frame, afeeder pile frame movable away from and toward said main frame, alocking member for locking said frames together, and a sheet separatorcarried by said main frame operatively connected to .said' lockingmember whereby said. separator is automatically moved into apredetermined position when said locking member is 'moved.

8. In a printing press, the combination of a main frame, a'feeder pileframe movable away from and toward said main frame, a locking member bymeans of which said frames are locked together, and asheet separatorcarried by said main-frame operatively connected to said locking memberwhere'- by said separator is moved into a safety position upon apredetermined movement of said locking member. I

9. In a printing press, the combination of a main frame, a feeder pileframe movable away from and toward said main frame, a locking member bymeans of which said frames are locked together, a sheet separatorcarried by said main frame operatively connected to said locking memberwhereby said separator is moved into a safety position upon apredetermined movement of -ber whereby said separator is moved into asafety position upon a predetermined movement of said locking member,means for holding saidseparator in said safety position, and means forreturnin said separator to its safety position if it is moved therefrom.

11. In a printing press, the combination of a main frame, a feeder pileframe movable away from and towards said main frame, a locking memberfor locking said frames together, a sheet separator which during itsoperation moves into the path of movement of a part carried by saidfeeder pile frame, said separator bein operatively connected to saidlocking mem er whereby said se arator is moved into a safety position wen said locking member is given an unlocking movement preparatory to amovement of said feeder pile frame away from the main frame, and meansfor returning said separator to said safety position upon movement ofsaid feeder pile frame towards said main frame if said separator in themeantime has moved from its safety position.

12. In a printing press, the combination of a sheet separator, a shaftthrough which said sheet separator is moved, means connected to saidshaft for actuating same during the normal operation of the machine, andmeans connected toisaid shaft for moving said separator into a safetyposition un der certain predetermined conditions.

- 13. In a printing press, the combination of a sheet separator, a shaftthrough which said sheet'separator is moved, means connected to saidshaft for actuating same dur ing the normal operation of the machine,

a bracket mounted on said support and op- 10 eratively connected to saidbarrel portion, said barrel portion and bracket being adjustable withrespect to each other for adjusting the position of said separator.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, of April, 1924.

JOSEPH R. BLAINE.

this 8th day 15

